Where Wild, Sustainable Salmon and Community Traditions are Intertwined
Seattle, Washington – The Metlakatla Indian Community, a small fishing village on Annette Island, Alaska played host to PBS's Kelly Cox as she sought to learn the ins and outs of sustainable salmon fishing. She got that and so much more: a lesson in commercial salmon fishing, the deep-rooted history of salmon and the Metlakatla community, a (literal!) taste of generations-old salmon cooking traditions, and an understanding of why certification is a clear choice to sustain wild salmon populations. The PBS web series The Original Fare, created by Cox, features her journey through Metlakatla in its latest episode, released on November 1.The Metlakatla Indian Community - the only Indian Reserve in the State of Alaska - manages the salmon fishery, harvesting chum, coho, king, sockeye, and pink salmon in the waters off the Annette Islands Reserve (AIR), making it the only tribally-managed fishery in Alaska. The fishery was first certified in 2011 and must undergo annual audits to ensure it continues to meet the MSC sustainability standard. The fishery is actively monitored and managed daily and weekly to make sure enough salmon escape to reach the local spawning grounds.
Though the AIR salmon fishery catches a small percentage of total Alaskan salmon catch at about 3%, it plays a much larger role in the Metlakatla community. Most residents are involved in the fishing industry, whether by fishing, working at the local processing facility or hatchery, smoking and canning salmon for other community members, or mending nets.
The Original Fare joined the MSC on Annette Island to capture the important stories about the intersection of food, community, and tradition. The show – in its fifth season – takes Cox around the world as she hunts, forages, and farms her way in search of the best ingredients our planet has to offer. During the visit, Cox connects with the Program Director and fisheries staff of the Department of Fish & Wildlife, village elders, active fishers, a processor, and others to understand the deep connection salmon has to the people, the culture, and the land.
Follow @MSCBlueFish on Instagram to catch photos and stories from the trip and find the episode on PBS.org/show/original-fare.
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